Why Do We Have To Be Tempted? (Breaking Temptation)

[BenFTW]

Don't you just hate it? Temptation, I mean. It is such a terrible thing and while I understand that temptation itself is not sin as Christ Himself was tempted (in all ways as we are) I cannot break the thought that I despise it. I don't want to just quit sinning, I don't want to have the desire in the first place.

Can God so sanctify us that not only do we not commit the sin but the desire for it too is gone? I've heard testimonies of such, people who have addictions and their addiction is eliminated. Don't you just wish that we didn't have these weaknesses, these proclivities?

I look at these verses, to contemplate the process of temptation to sin...

James 1:12-16 King James Version (KJV)

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

I read that and I think that the temptation presents itself, it is focused on and then one is enticed by which then they have been entangled (given in), quickly followed by the sin. So it goes temptation due to enticement, the it is conceived by lust (giving in and desiring it), then the deed.

So, ultimately sin is then sourced from the temptation that one entertains. How then, do we not be enticed? How do we overcome temptation? Well, the Word says that God gives us the escape and to approach the throne of grace for grace and mercy in time of need. Prayer then, is the solution as it presents itself.

That is awesome that we have such a gracious solution, yet I still wonder. Temptation itself is a result of enticement. I know Christ didn't sin yet it says He dealt with temptation. I mean, even the devil tried tempting Him, and why try if He couldn't be temped? So... what exactly is temptation and what is the root of it? If Christ was tempted, does that mean we can't even consider not being tempted? I suppose we all have our own weaknesses as far as what it tempting to each of us individually, but on an individual basis, can such temptation be broken?

 

[wwjd_kilden]

I don't think we can avoid "temptation" as a general term. There will always be something around.

What we can do though, is try to find out what our greatest weakness is, and see if we can avoid it.

If someone knows they eat too much sugar, they shouldn't stock up on candy,
If someone knows they have an alcohol problem, they shouldn't stock up on alcohol or visit bars.

There are other temptations / sins that are harder to overcome though. What about the urge to make a snide remark to something that was said or done?

 

[trofimus]

"Our Father... lead us not into temptation"

Matthew 6:13

 

[BenFTW]

I don't think we can avoid "temptation" as a general term. There will always be something around.

What we can do though, is try to find out what our greatest weakness is, and see if we can avoid it.

If someone knows they eat too much sugar, they shouldn't stock up on candy,
If someone knows they have an alcohol problem, they shouldn't stock up on alcohol or visit bars.

There are other temptations / sins that are harder to overcome though. What about the urge to make a snide remark to something that was said or done?

But why does it have to be enticing? Why can't you not be interested in sugar, or alcohol? The Lord has set people free of such addictions. I am just considering the idea of God breaking a person's weakness to something and strengthening them, to remove the desire all together. What is it in us that makes temptation occur, that even Christ in the flesh dealt with it? Yet. He was without sin. Even so, what is the source of temptation?

I wonder if it bothered Jesus, when temptation presented itself? Of course He didn't entertain it, as He did not sin. I don't know, temptation is an interesting topic since it is so closely tied to sin, and the process of temptation, enticement, entertainment, and then sin. Its just on my mind, and sometimes when I think about my own weaknesses I just wish they weren't so. Why do they have to be so, cannot the Lord remove such desires? Why does sugar, for example, have to be enticing? It isn't for everyone, so why can't it be for me? Or can it?

 

[WineRose]

I am often tempted to drink a nice glass of roasted milk tea every Thursday after school. That ain't terrible

 

[FreeNChrist]

As long as there is a Temptor, there will be temptation.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

I don't think we can avoid "temptation" as a general term. There will always be something around.

What we can do though, is try to find out what our greatest weakness is, and see if we can avoid it.

If someone knows they eat too much sugar, they shouldn't stock up on candy,
If someone knows they have an alcohol problem, they shouldn't stock up on alcohol or visit bars.

There are other temptations / sins that are harder to overcome though. What about the urge to make a snide remark to something that was said or done?

Maybe...the focus is wrong here. It is not what we put into our body that defiles us. Just thinking as I go here...

 

[wwjd_kilden]

Maybe...the focus is wrong here. It is not what we put into our body that defiles us. Just thinking as I go here...

I know that, the point I was trying to make was that some temptations you can avoid by not going near them, while others sort of just ... appear, and so are harder to avoid and to deal with.

 

[wwjd_kilden]

"The flesh is weak" , maybe there mere fact that we are humans make us prone to temptation / sin ?

 

[FreeNChrist]

As Christians, we are no longer natural born sinners, we are supernaturally born saints. But we still have desires within us that have become warped. What the Bible calls the flesh. It is those warped desires that the Tempter uses to tempt us with. Our need is not to try and suppress a non-existent sin nature, but to open our hearts and minds to Christ so that His thoughts will become our thoughts.

Recognizing that the flesh, those “bents” that have been developed within our desires, will always remain. And that the enemy, who actually helped to develop them, will always try to use them to tempt us. But that we do not have to succumb to those temptations because that’s not who we are anymore...and because the One who is in us, is greater than the one who is in the world.

 

[PrynceNY]

I don't believe we will be free from temptation until we receive glorified incorruptible bodies. There is always spiritual warfare happening on earth, battling for souls.

 

[twofeet]

You know me Ben, therefore you know my response is gona be just "out there". I will speak on my decades ( I feel old) of my walk with the Lord. Satan will tempt in areas we are weak... he wont waste his time in strong areas. He is out to win in the spiritual battle. So, knowing his strategies, when I am in a place of temptation I will BOLDLY APPROACH THE THRONE OF GRACE...why?....because there is NO CONDEMNATION for those in Christ. I will ask the Lord WHY I feel tempted or even fallen in that temptation. The Lord will then show me either damage done in me, something lacking in me that I haven't asked the Lord to fill, or an area in my spirit I havent protected properly because the boundary lines have shift . ( Boundaries are a topic all of their own). Once I have the understanding of WHY it is a temptation I can then defeat the enemy IN THAT AREA. When the Son sets you free you are free indeed. Once I have overcome an area in my life THROUGH Jesus I have never returned to it. I loose all interest. My thinking and understanding has changed and I have been restored. Look at Jesus temptation in the wilderness. Satan targeted a certain area. He didn't throw in a naked woman in front of him as a "sexual" distraction or temptation because that would not have worked with Jesus. Even though he was a man he was also God...the creator of both men and women. He created women. Why would he even look at a woman in the same light as a man would? His understanding of a woman and her form was far beyond any man would understand because he was God AND a perfect man walking in absolute pure holiness. What Satan did do was try to tempt Jesus into NOT going to the cross.. saving him hours of suffering... by offering him the Kingdoms of the earth.Satan also kept trying to "creep in the back door" by goading Jesus to rise up in pride. Repeatedly he said "if" you are the son of God. Speaking TRUTH without rising up in pride and anger to defend yourself is not easy.

If you are tempted in any area of your life then Satan sees it is a weakness in you. If it continues then you are not free in that area in Christ. It needs to be healed, restored, set free in that area. We can do ALL things THROUGH Christ who strengthens us. Trying to figure it out ourselves or try to defeat it in our own strength will lead to good days and bad and never being an OVERCOMER. Some days we will resists other days fail and look to the Lord for his mercy. We are called to be OVERCOMERS and only through Christ can we do that.

 

[twofeet]

And btw.......will Satan ever stop tempting us? ........no chance!

 

[BeyondET]

Temptations will end when the enemy is defeated...

 

[seed_time_harvest]

Faith will be tested and great Faith will be tested greatly.

 

[wwjd_kilden]

Faith will be tested and great Faith will be tested greatly.

What is the definition of "test" when it comes to faith? I mean, God knows the end, so he knows the result, right?

 

[Desertsrose]

We're in a battle each and every day of our lives. As soldiers of Christ we sometimes become weary and might remove part of our armor.

One teacher described it like this......when we wake up in the morning is our first thought on God, His word, prayer, obedience, what does God have planned for me today? Have we put off the old man and put on the new man today?

My thinking is that we are not always ready to battle the enemy and what he throws at us. He catches us unaware and when we are the weakest. He throws doubts our way - his arsenal is full of arrows with different purposes. But ultimately he wants us to deny our Lord and Savior.

What can we do:
Pray.
Grow up and quit living carnal lives.
Put off the old man, put on the new.
Obey the word.
Read and study the word.
Know the word backwards and forwards - it's our sword against the enemies lies.
Take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ.
Draw near to God and He draws near to us.
Resist the enemy and he must flee.
Submit to the lead and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Don't be ashamed to confess our sins for cleansing. Unconfessed sin is used against us by the enemy.
And embrace Christian fellowship for protection. We need one another.
Be a Berean.

 

[Desertsrose]

Maybe...the focus is wrong here. It is not what we put into our body that defiles us. Just thinking as I go here...

Hi Stunned,

True, food isn't the focus, but many have become gluttons because of their addictive habit of living to eat and become slaves to their food cravings or become drunkards because of their temptations to drink beyond what they should. The food didn't make them do it, nor the wine or beer.

It's the desire within and I think that's what wwjd was alluding to.

 

[resurrection33]

Don't you just hate it? Temptation, I mean. It is such a terrible thing and while I understand that temptation itself is not sin as Christ Himself was tempted (in all ways as we are) I cannot break the thought that I despise it. I don't want to just quit sinning, I don't want to have the desire in the first place.

Can God so sanctify us that not only do we not commit the sin but the desire for it too is gone? I've heard testimonies of such, people who have addictions and their addiction is eliminated. Don't you just wish that we didn't have these weaknesses, these proclivities?

I look at these verses, to contemplate the process of temptation to sin...

James 1:12-16 King James Version (KJV)

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

I read that and I think that the temptation presents itself, it is focused on and then one is enticed by which then they have been entangled (given in), quickly followed by the sin. So it goes temptation due to enticement, the it is conceived by lust (giving in and desiring it), then the deed.

So, ultimately sin is then sourced from the temptation that one entertains. How then, do we not be enticed? How do we overcome temptation? Well, the Word says that God gives us the escape and to approach the throne of grace for grace and mercy in time of need. Prayer then, is the solution as it presents itself.

That is awesome that we have such a gracious solution, yet I still wonder. Temptation itself is a result of enticement. I know Christ didn't sin yet it says He dealt with temptation. I mean, even the devil tried tempting Him, and why try if He couldn't be temped? So... what exactly is temptation and what is the root of it? If Christ was tempted, does that mean we can't even consider not being tempted? I suppose we all have our own weaknesses as far as what it tempting to each of us individually, but on an individual basis, can such temptation be broken?

I suppose we have to be tempted so we can develop the strength to resist temptation. The plan is that we spend eternity in paradise, but if we can't resist temptation, it won't be paradise.

 

[BenFTW]

I suppose we have to be tempted so we can develop the strength to resist temptation. The plan is that we spend eternity in paradise, but if we can't resist temptation, it won't be paradise.

Thats a scary thought though, isn't it? To think that paradise is dependent upon our own ability to resist temptation? It falls in line with the belief that one maintains their salvation, and its faulty because God's word in Hebrews says that Jesus lives forever interceding on our behalf and He is able to save us completely. So even into eternity it is Christ who sustains us.